Congratulations to Jeremy Michael Piggot Navarrete on the successful and outstanding defense of his doctoral thesis!
Congratulations to Jeremy Michael Piggot Navarrete, who successfully defended his PhD thesis in Wood and Bio-based Materials Engineering on December 2, 2025!
His thesis, entitled « Energy Efficiency Considerations of the Quality of Prefabricated System Envelopes  », aimed to assess the improvements brought by the use of prefabricated wooden envelopes on the hygrothermal and energy performance of buildings, compared to traditional systems, in current and future climatic contexts.
This achievement crowns a thorough research effort, conducted with rigor and passion, under the supervision of Professor Pierre Blanchet (Université Laval).
The jury, composed of recognized experts in the field—Daniel Beaudoin (Université Laval), Alain Cloutier (Université Laval), Maria Beatriz Piderit Moreno (Universidad San Sebastián), and Franz Segovia Abanto (SEREX)—praised the quality and significance of the doctoral candidate’s work.
Well done, Jeremy! This accomplishment marks a major milestone in an academic journey already rich with achievements and inspiring contributions to sustainable construction research and industrial engineering.
Once again, our heartfelt congratulations!
Title:Â Energy Efficiency Considerations of Prefabricated Building Envelope Quality
Abstract:
Due to climate change, reducing global energy demand is becoming increasingly necessary. The construction sector, responsible for approximately 40% of global energy consumption, must therefore explore new high-energy-efficiency technologies. In this context, the prefabrication of building envelopes is increasingly utilized, thanks to its clear advantages and improved quality control.
Prefabricated timber wall panel systems are manufactured under controlled conditions in off-site facilities. As a result, they are expected to exhibit superior thermal properties. It is assumed that timber prefabricated envelopes can significantly reduce the energy demand of buildings. However, these panels are installed on-site, where conditions differ from those in the factory, potentially causing issues at panel junctions. Moreover, the scientific literature on this topic remains limited.
The main objective of this research was to assess the improvements provided by timber prefabricated envelopes on the hygrothermal and energy performance of buildings, compared to traditional systems, under current and future climatic contexts.
The adopted methodology was structured in three complementary steps. In the first step, the hygrothermal performance and airtightness of a traditional timber envelope system were analyzed through laboratory experiments focusing on heat transfer and air infiltration. The negative influence of on-site construction defects was also quantified. The second step involved evaluating envelope systems composed of prefabricated timber panels, applying the same experimental methodology as in the first step. Finally, the third step consisted of a comparative analysis of the energy demand associated with each type of envelope system (prefabricated and traditional), conducted using dynamic building energy simulations. This analysis considered both current climatic conditions and future climate projections.
The results quantified the gains provided by using prefabricated timber panels in buildings, in terms of both hygrothermal and energy performance, and offered insights into their behavior under future climate scenarios. They also identified elements of different envelope systems requiring improvement, particularly the panel junction systems.